Racing game device



March 18, 1958 F. D. WALKER 2,827,29fi

RACING GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1956 INVENTORI Fore/2M3. WEI/Ker,

March 18, 1958 F. D. WALKER 2,827,296

RACING GAME DEVICE Filed. Feb. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Flare/2 M2 WZ/f'er,

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ilnited States Patent Q RACING GAME DEVICE Florence D. Walker, Chester, Pa.

Application February 17, 1956, Serial No. 566,150

4 Claims. (Cl. 273-86) This invention relates to an amusement device in which a number of movable members are caused to be propelled over a predetermined course and, particularly, a device in which movable members are caused to travel a course defined by a plurality of fixed guide rails.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device in which movable members are operated by means which are mounted below the guide rails and are invisible, and, at the same time, exert a varying and random propelling influence upon the movable members without being mechanically connected to the movable members.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description which follows, having reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with the present invention with a portion of the top having been broken away illustrating the operating mechanism which is normally invisible.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an alternative guide rail arrangement for executing the rise and fall of the movable members.

Pig. 4 is a sectional view somewhat enlarged showing details of the propulsion means.

Fig. 5 is a section somewhat enlarged showing the guide rail arrangement and the underlying magnetic propulsion unit channels.

Referring to the drawings, thedevice of the present invention consists of an enclosure which is made up of a base 11 having upwardly extending portions 12 on which there is mounted a support member 13 in spaced relationship to the base 11. A cover 14, having downwardly extending portions 15, is fitted over the combined base 11 and mounting member 13 as shown in Fig. 2 leaving a space between the cover and the support 13. Upright dividing wall members is are mounted at spaced intervals in the base 11, thereby forming the channels 17, the purpose of which will be explained at a later point.

Also mounted on the base 11 in the space between it and support 13 are the shafts 18 and 1b 011 which are mounted the toothed wheels 2i) and 21, respectively by means of hubs as shown in Fig. 2. Also attached to the hub of wheel 21 is worm wheel 22 which is driven by the worm gear 23 through Operation of the motor 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Base 11 is provided with depressed portions 25 at several irregular intervals which extend across the path of the magnets 26 which travel along this varying surface of base 11. The magnets 26 are attached by means of lines 27 to a movable chain or belt 28 which is operatively attached to the toothed wheels 21) and 21. Mounting plate 13 is provided with two openings 29 and 3b which receive the insert bearings 31 and 32 respectively for retention of the shafts 18 and 19. Mounting plate 13 also carries the upwardly extending guide rails 33 which carry the movable carriage members 34. The latter consist of a frame member 35 having wheels 36 and carrying member 37 which is made of a magnetic metal. A device in the form of an animal 38 is carried on the movable carriage by means of the vertical member 39 which extends upwardly from the movable carriage through the slot 40 which overlies the guide rail 33, as will be seen in detail in Fig. 5. Animal 33 may be substituted by various vehicles such as autos, boats, chariots or the like to conform to the particular race selected. Support members 41 are provided to maintain a rigid separation between the top 14 and the intermediate mountiug plate 13, in order to insure clearance at all times for the carriages.

in operation the movable objects are first positioned at a predetermined starting line and the motor 24 is started. Through the worm gear 23 and the worm wheel 22 a rotary motion is imparted to the toothed wheel 21 and this in turn sets the chain 28 in motion. The several magnets 26 are thus caused to move in their respective channels 17 and since there is considerable magnetic attraction between the magnets and the metal portions 37 of the movable devices there is imparted motion to the movable carriages so long as the magnet is moving under it along the upper surface of the base 11. This motion continues until such time as the moving magnet 26 reaches one of the depressions 25. These depressions are provided in the base 11 at a number of positions around the track across the magnet channels and have the effect of enlarging the vertical separation between the magnet 26 and the magnetic metal carried by the carriage, thus reducing the strength of the magnetic hold which the magnet has on the movable carriage. The result of this is that the magnet 26 slips relative to the carriage and travels somewhat faster than the carriage above it during the period of transition through the depressed portion 25. The movable object therefore lags behind the moving magnet as shown in the central figure 34 of Fig. 2, and is thus delayed in its travel around the course until it is picked up by the next magnet travelling in the channel underlying it. This is made possible by the fact that the momentum of the movable object plus the configuration of the guide rail carries it beyond the depression 25, but the lag is sufficiently great to permit the moving magnet to escape. Since there are a number .of moving magnets positioned within each of the channels 17, there is imparted to the device an element of chance which is outside the control of the operator, and which provides all of the elements required for simulating a race since the competing movable objects stop and start again at unpredictable times and for unpredictable intervals.

While the present invention has been described having reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that the invention, as defined in the appended claims, includes equivalent combinations of elements for accomplishing substantially the same results.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a base, a support member mounted in spaced relationship above said base, a plurality of upwardly extending partition members attached to the said base and forming separate guide channels, rotatable members mounted in the space between said base and said support member, endless belt means in operative engagement with said rotatable members, drive means for rotating said rotatable members and for moving said endless belt, a plurality of permanent magnets positioned in said channels, movable attachment means mechanically connecting said magnets with said endless belt, said attachment means being vertically movable with respect to said belt, a plurality of upwardly extending guide rails attached to said support member and positioned respectively over said guide channels, a

' pluralityof movable objects positioned on said guide rails, magnetic metal elements secured to said movableobjects, whereby motion of one of said magnets in a guide channel located'beneath said movable object imparts motion to said movableobjerztalong said guide'rail in response to the position of said magnet in said guide channelrdepressions formed in said base member across said guide channelslthereby increasing the vertical separa tion b etweenthe base member and the overlying guide rail, whereby the force exerted by said magnetson said magnetic metal attached to the movable members is decreased during the time period required for said magnets to pass through said depressions, the extent of such de-' pressions being'such as to cause a sutficient decrease in said magnetic attraction to provide slippage and ultimate escape .of the moving magnet, from the movable object audits attached magnetic metalthereby causing the mag net to move faster than the object.

' 2. The invention of claim-1 furthercharacterized by a plurality of magnets within each of said channels.

3. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that the guide rails positioned over said guide channels have high and low portions, at least one of said high portions being positioned over one of said depressions whereby the movable object is carried by gravity beyond the region overlying said depression.

4. The invention of claim 1 further characterizedbv the fact that said depressions are positioned at intervals around said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France July 11, 

